"It's just absolutely amazing," say York's new lottery millionaires (From York Press)
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Judy and Frank Whitmore win £1 million in Christmas EuroMillions raffle
9:00am Friday 30th December 2011 in News
By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk
Judy and Frank Whitmore of Tockwith celebrate their £1million win in the EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle draw.
Updated: YORK’S new millionaire lottery winners have spoken of their delight – and revealed they kept their winning ticket in a “sacred” antique teapot over Christmas until they could claim their prize.
Judy and Frank Whitmore, of Tockwith, won £1 million in the Christmas EuroMillions raffle last Friday, winning one of 25 top prizes.
The couple, who have been married for 43 years and have three children, yesterday told of their joy in a photocall at the Bridge Inn Hotel at Wetherby.
Mrs Whitmore, 62, said: “We are just country folk. We have lovely neighbours and have been inundated with calls and visits congratulating us on our win. It’s just absolutely amazing.”
Mr Whitmore, 68, said the win just meant “freedom inside your head.”
He said he stopped buying lottery tickets two years ago, thinking he could put the money to better use, but said his wife “had kept the faith.” Mrs Whitmore said she had bought a ticket last Thursday because she had seen publicity about how many winners there would be.
She forgot all about it until lunch-time on Christmas Eve.
She said: “I got the laptop out and saw I hadn’t won the lottery so checked through the raffle numbers.”
After seeing the winning number – and checking it six times – she and her husband rang their son to check. He said: “Yes, Mum, you have won it.” Her winning number was FYC 521328.
Mrs Whitmore said they “screamed for a bit” but rather than go out shopping, they went for a walk “with great big smiles on our faces and occasionally laughing”.
They kept the winning ticket over Christmas in an antique teapot, which had belonged to Mr Whitmore’s great great grandmother, and put it on top of a kitchen unit.
Mrs Whitmore, who is teetotal, posed for photographs with her husband, the teapot and a glass of Champagne for Mr Whitmore – though he usually prefers Tetleys bitter.
She said: “The teapot is a family heirloom. It’s sacred to us, our little teapot.”
The couple have three children, Andrew, 42 – who verified they had a winning ticket – Louise, 40, and Paul, 32, and four grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.
They said they had no plans to leave Tockwith, but would be taking an immediate holiday to clear their heads.
Both the keen walkers love the east coast and said they may venture to the north of Scotland, working their way slowly back to their home.
Mr Whitmore spent 40 years refurbishing kitchens, while his wife worked part-time in a cafeteria. Both are now retired.
“We were comfortable because my husband was sensible and had a good pension,” said Mrs Whitmore.
“We were not rich. We are normal, everyday people who like taking the dog for a walk and the countryside.”
Mr Whitmore said they intend to help members of the family as well as splashing out a bit on themselves. He plans to trade in his Vauxhall Meriva for a Toyota Rav4 and they may buy a seaside caravan.
The winning ticket was bought in Tockwith Post Office.
Staff member Christine Jenkins, who used to work with Mrs Whitmore at a nursing home in nearby Long Marston, spoke of her joy for the pair. “It couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple,” she said.
“They are both so nice and caring. Everyone is happy for them.”
Fellow villager Sue Dunn, who has known Mr Whitmore all his life, said: “I am delighted for them. It is so nice to hear something so positive in the news. I am really pleased for them both.”
Toni Akeroyd, a worker at the Spotted Ox pub, said she grew up with Paul, one of the couple’s sons. She said: “I have known the family for all my life and they are lovely.
“They are just nice people – it is great news.”
Camelot said there were still five unclaimed £1 million EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle winners from the December 23 draw.
How fortunate
AS Christmas presents go, winning the lottery has to be as good as it gets. And for Judy and Frank Whitmore it will be a very Happy New Year, as a cheque for £1 million wings its way into their bank account.
We are delighted for them. Judy says they are just normal, everyday folk who, when they heard the news, went for a walk rather than splashing out their new-found riches in the Boxing Day sales.
It’s great to hear that such a well-loved couple have been rewarded with a slice of good fortune.
Comments(33)
inthesticks
says...
11:16am Thu 29 Dec 11
redfrgle
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11:19am Thu 29 Dec 11
matroom
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11:22am Thu 29 Dec 11
openallhours
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11:53am Thu 29 Dec 11
Woody Mellor wrote:Near Wetherby!
Now that is a Happy New Year! By the way, where about's in York is Tockwith?
chillout
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11:54am Thu 29 Dec 11
akuma
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12:02pm Thu 29 Dec 11
Although I must confess, had I won I would not go public, a couple that lived a few doors down from my parents scooped 4.3 Million a good few years back and went public.
Each day after they had lines of people queing at there door begging and they had entire sacks of begging mail each day.
It got so bad they moved away, even though they didn't orginally intend to.
twigger
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12:16pm Thu 29 Dec 11
Woody Mellor wrote:Obviously a southerner. Typical !!
Now that is a Happy New Year! By the way, where about's in York is Tockwith?
Markiet
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12:20pm Thu 29 Dec 11
ls2sb
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1:25pm Thu 29 Dec 11
smudge1
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1:32pm Thu 29 Dec 11
smudge1
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1:40pm Thu 29 Dec 11
AnotherPointofView
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1:40pm Thu 29 Dec 11
twigger wrote:I think Woody was being sarcastic. Tockwith isn't within the ring road, like Huntington, Acomb or Heworth are for instance.
Woody Mellor wrote: Now that is a Happy New Year! By the way, where about's in York is Tockwith?Obviously a southerner. Typical !!
Very happy for the couple but do expect they will suddenly have lots of new friends...
openallhours
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1:46pm Thu 29 Dec 11
ls2sb wrote:9 miles from York, but only 5 miles from Wetherby!
Tockwith is located just outside the ring road, a couple of miles past Poppleton.
NoMorePlease
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3:21pm Thu 29 Dec 11
smudge1 wrote:hello brother. You won't know me but......
Dear dad you may not have heard of me but my mother assures me that you are my biological father. I would like to come and see you but that might be a little bit embarrasing for you so to save all that hassle just send me the child support money after all you havent paid any in the last 20 years, approx £50.000 should do it I would say, thanks dad. your ever loving son Jim.
TheonlywayisCity
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3:27pm Thu 29 Dec 11
uhtred
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3:55pm Thu 29 Dec 11
Pedro
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4:18pm Thu 29 Dec 11
NoNewsIsGoodNews
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5:15pm Thu 29 Dec 11
But looking at house prices in York it would take £250.000 to buy a modest house fit for a lottery winner then after 10 or so years of Council tax payments and general bills it would all be gone.
I would still like to win it though.
Good luck to you both.
Garrowby Turnoff
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7:43pm Thu 29 Dec 11
tommyinyork
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7:43pm Thu 29 Dec 11
Seriously get yourself abroad otherwise you might as well donate the whole lot.
micky moodys hat
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9:10pm Thu 29 Dec 11
oslo
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9:20pm Thu 29 Dec 11
Tockwith is NOT a York village though, despite the postcode. It is in the Harrogate Borough Council district of North Yorkshire. People who I used to work with who lived in Tockwith saw Wetherby (actually in West Yorkshire) as their local town.
the butler
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10:20pm Thu 29 Dec 11
James Street Bare Knuckle Gypsy Fighter
says...
1:56am Fri 30 Dec 11
malwood9
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9:32am Fri 30 Dec 11
akuma
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9:37am Fri 30 Dec 11
James Street Bare Knuckle Gypsy Fighter wrote:A million may not be enough to retire and live a life of extreme luxury as it did in the past.
They probably don't need it and it will no doubt sit in a bank account. 1,000,000 isnt that much anymore anyway. The word millionaire doesn't have the same ring to it as it did 20 years ago
That said, for most of us it would pay off a mortgage, any debt, allow you to do your existing house up to a really nice standard with all the best stuff, buy you a luxury car, and have a top notch holiday every year for the rest of your life without worrying about money or desprately trying to getting that promotion just to get by.
Woody Mellor
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9:58am Fri 30 Dec 11
again
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11:41am Fri 30 Dec 11
I'd give it a darned good try!
Gissa a million.. Perleeeaaase!
(malwood9: best comment!)
CHISSY1
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12:31pm Fri 30 Dec 11
micky moodys hat wrote:You are spot on there,good luck to them.
What a bunch if miseable jealous folk there is in here
ReginaldBiscuit
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4:29pm Fri 30 Dec 11
Caliyorkia
says...
5:12am Mon 2 Jan 12
By Jennifer Bell
Crime reporter
... are you trying to tell us something?
imk
says...
10:26am Thu 5 Jan 12
Woody Mellor says...
11:13am Thu 29 Dec 11